This is the first in a series of "Cooking With Friends" charity dinners Animal chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo will be holding, with a portion of the proceeds from each dinner going to the guest chef's charity of choice. Kostow has chosen Cancer for College, a foundation that provides financial aid to cancer survivors. The eight-course dinner is $135 per person plus tax. Wine pairings will be offered at an additional cost. Call Animal to reserve a table any day after 2 p.m. at 323-782-9225.

If that's a little out of your price range, N/Naka has a series of charity dinners coming up that are actually quite a bargain.

On Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 7, chef Niki Nakayama is offering a $55 five-course menu called "Eat/Give/Hope." You can add wine pairings for $30. 100% of proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Reservations can be made at 310-836-6252. (H/T Grubstreet)